Something different this day...
The Crazed American is a fan of good Zombie Movies. George Romero and Tom Savini should be put on Mt. Rushmore in my humble opinion. I am not talking about shlocky cheap ripoffs, but Zombie movies that take the subject matter semi –seriously and let decent actors put decent writing and story development to the flesh munching, stumbling and mumbling test.
Good Zombie Movie: Night of the Living Dead (original and remake – although the original takes the cup for the better film, although Tony Todd is one of the most unrecognized thespians in Hollywood)
Bad Zombie Movie: Return of the Living Dead III. While the acting wasn’t horrible (it was real close at times) it failed on many accounts, not the least of following the “accepted” rules of zombies in cinema (i.e. talking zombies, and zombies with feelings)
To be honest, that, to me is where most of these lower ranked Zombie movies fall down.
I actually like it when Zombie movies try to make it believable (ala the Resident Evils, or 28 Days Later)
As a service to the film going public The Crazed American Presents a Primer on:
The Cannibal Undead (Homo Romericus Necrosapiens)
1. Zombies are decaying lumps of rotting flesh – eventually they will decay to the point of disintegration. Due to the fact that they are animated by a method of anerobic respiration (as evidenced by #3), and since the byproducts of anerobic respiration are various types of acids (not an Alien burn through the deck plates kind of acid), decomposition would be more rapid
2. Zombies can’t drown – but they would probably float (gas produced by decomposition)
3. Zombies would starve to death without living flesh to consume. (Kudos: 28 Days Later) Otherwise why would they need to prey on the living?
4. Killing Zombies: Disruption of the Cerebral Cortex and Medulla Oblongota (brain stem) are required to defeat an Undead Minion. A head shot that didn’t produce sufficient cerebral trauma or hydrostatic liquefaction wouldn’t necessarily affect the “Living Impaired”. At the same time if you destroyed, let’s say the vision center of the undead brain, the undead would be unable to see. Also, decapitating the undead would not re-dead the creature, it would merely cause the head, with working jaws to roll about, trying to find an ankle or toe to latch onto. In addition, nerve gas would work on the undead. Heat would work on the undead. A zombie would not last long in the summer desert. If the temperature got hot enough, the proteins in the non-living brain would denature, preventing impulse transmission. Zombies would be defeated by freezing temperatures (ice crystals in the nervous system – disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses)
5. Zombies do not speak. Ever. Make them talk and they automatically become less scary. Part of the fear factor from the undead legions is that you cannot communicate with them. If they communicate with you that automatically leaves the window open to negotiation. The term “mindless legions of the undead” brings on a sense of fear and foreboding. “Chatty Zombies” is not nearly as scary.
6. Zombies cannot run. Due to the effect of death in the cererbral cortex, cerebrum and medulla, the motor skills of the minion would be diminished. That effect would be compounded over time. They might be able to sprint soon after zombification, but someone who had been dead for a week or two, even with a steady supply of healthy victims, wouldn’t have the balance to sprint off on down the road after fleeing “lifers”. (Sorry remake of Dawn of the Dead – OK for 28 Days Later – you explained your way around it since your Zombies weren’t actually dead!)
7. Zombification is caused by a virus or bacterium of some sort. Depictions of people being sprayed by infected blood (drenched in some cases) would lead to infection through inhalation or a mucus membrane, much less an open wound.
8. Carrion animals would definitely be a problem to the undead hordes. After a zombie outbreak, there would be a surge in the number of vultures and other scavengers. America might see a resurgence of hyena roaming the “fruited plains” due to escaped animals from zoos. Whether or not the carrion animals would be able to transmit the zombification agent would have to be determined.
All of this being said, there are no real rules for the cannibal undead. To state the obvious they are a work of fiction (freaky film Serpent and the Rainbow not withstanding) Romero (PBUH) invented the cannibal zombie, so to be honest he gets a pass on the zombie horde ambling through the river in Land of the Dead. Before that, zombies were just seen as mindless automatons of wizards, witch doctors and the like. If a writer can tell a story obeying the first rule of fiction (science or otherwise) “Create a world, give that world rules, then people that world and live in it according to those rules” and come up with decent dialogue that tells a gripping story, I’m game. Oh, decent direction, acting and production values are a must. Horror films with bad actors are lame. Ones with decent actors can get scary…
Also referencing running zombies – I tend to think that if you give the undead (or any monster) too many abilities or powers, it makes the film going experience less enjoyable. Audiences need to think that the protagonists might get out of a situation, otherwise the movie, to me just becomes a viewing of a depiction of watching people die. If the situation gets to a point where a horde of running, superhuman, un killable undead hell bent on devouring all of humanity is right behind our group of intrepid survivors, its done, it's over. In the immortal world of SGT Kyle Reese, they "...will not stop - until you are dead!" If the people who you have invested 90 -120 minutes of your life into don't even have the possibility of survival, as a film, you're done. Future Zombie Filmsmiths take note: Good Zombie Movies all end with at least a glimmer of hope that humanity would continue, in some state or form. Give the audience hope and let them identify with the protagonists, and you’re golden. Make it ridiculous for anyone to survive, and the film becomes tedious. Not to say you can't kill off everybody at the end, just give them hope.
30 August 2006
28 August 2006
Well - ain't it grand...
Excellent article by Stanley Kurtz at NRO, here
Rock me to sleep, why don't you?
Anyone got a line on a field expedient fallout shelter?
Rock me to sleep, why don't you?
Anyone got a line on a field expedient fallout shelter?
25 August 2006
Russel L. Honore for President
Russel L. Honore for President.
Seriously.
True American. Proven administrator. Takes s#!+ from no one.
Don't believe me? Remember the term Stuck on Stupid?
That's the kind of leadership that America needs in a time like this...
Good post here.
Seriously.
True American. Proven administrator. Takes s#!+ from no one.
Don't believe me? Remember the term Stuck on Stupid?
That's the kind of leadership that America needs in a time like this...
Good post here.
22 August 2006
Happy 27th of Rajab!
People have asked me why is today so significant?
http://www.islam.co.za/khanka/significance_of_rajab.htm
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t22609.html
I'm sorry, but "Shia Chat"? Would the Imam Ali (PBUH) approve of that URL?
If I am not mistaken, those expectant of the return of the 12th Imam hold this day on the Islamic Calendar in high regard. Could it be termed the beginning of the End Times?
In related news, the Islamic Republic of Iran has responded to the toothless and useless UN Security Council. According to the AP via Drugde, the IR is ready to "begin serious negotiations"
Begin serious negotiations? Exactly what has happened up until now?!?
Hello, League of Nations? Yes, this is Denial calling...
In the immortal words of a Staff Sergeant of mine, "What we have here is a giant sh-t sandwich, and we all get to line up and take a big ol' bite."
This blog ventured a theory a while back. IT Islamic Republic is working it's enrichment plants 24 hours a day to have enough weapons grade material to refurbish it's ex-Soviet weapons and have enough to kick start a atomic waepon production line. October is a fair bet...
If anyone needs me, I have to go Google the APFT standards for a 33yr old male. Dammit, I hate running.
As more time goes by, the more and more it looks like "not a question of if, but when..."
Also, my Asian Pal, "Spengler" , has a great new column out, so please take a gander. Spengler thinks that we'll hit the IR by Halloween.
Of course that will give certain American political operatives ammuntion to use against the President, saying that a war with Iran is nothing but a politcal ploy. Hindsight is damnable. I wish the tactics in Iraq had been played a bit different. I still do not think that Invasion of Iraq was a mistake. Saddam had to go, and had go give us a place to apply pressure against Wahabs in the House of Saud and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persia). In a perfect world, I'd send more troops to Iraq.
Especially if rumors of the Iranians Shelling Iraqi Kurdistan are correct. Anyone else thinking of Prep Fires?!?
That's all for now, out.
http://www.islam.co.za/khanka/significance_of_rajab.htm
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t22609.html
I'm sorry, but "Shia Chat"? Would the Imam Ali (PBUH) approve of that URL?
If I am not mistaken, those expectant of the return of the 12th Imam hold this day on the Islamic Calendar in high regard. Could it be termed the beginning of the End Times?
In related news, the Islamic Republic of Iran has responded to the toothless and useless UN Security Council. According to the AP via Drugde, the IR is ready to "begin serious negotiations"
Begin serious negotiations? Exactly what has happened up until now?!?
Hello, League of Nations? Yes, this is Denial calling...
In the immortal words of a Staff Sergeant of mine, "What we have here is a giant sh-t sandwich, and we all get to line up and take a big ol' bite."
This blog ventured a theory a while back. IT Islamic Republic is working it's enrichment plants 24 hours a day to have enough weapons grade material to refurbish it's ex-Soviet weapons and have enough to kick start a atomic waepon production line. October is a fair bet...
If anyone needs me, I have to go Google the APFT standards for a 33yr old male. Dammit, I hate running.
As more time goes by, the more and more it looks like "not a question of if, but when..."
Also, my Asian Pal, "Spengler" , has a great new column out, so please take a gander. Spengler thinks that we'll hit the IR by Halloween.
Of course that will give certain American political operatives ammuntion to use against the President, saying that a war with Iran is nothing but a politcal ploy. Hindsight is damnable. I wish the tactics in Iraq had been played a bit different. I still do not think that Invasion of Iraq was a mistake. Saddam had to go, and had go give us a place to apply pressure against Wahabs in the House of Saud and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persia). In a perfect world, I'd send more troops to Iraq.
Especially if rumors of the Iranians Shelling Iraqi Kurdistan are correct. Anyone else thinking of Prep Fires?!?
That's all for now, out.
18 August 2006
NASA - LEO ain't going to cut it no more...
If I were President (Part I – NASA)
Bringing to you an sporadic and unorganized series of rantings on what would happen under the benevolent Crazed American Administration.
Part I: NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Many times I ask myself, what happened to American Leadership in all things technological? First and foremost, I refer to you to the glorious NASA – under whose Administration, has seen America’s Exploration ability wane to the point of insignificance. We are a nation, founded by explorers, yet we have nothing to explore. There is a boundless frontier that’s only one hundred miles way, and all that stands between us and it is gravity and a will to do it. American priorities are just not where they need to be to see us “boldly go”. Dammit – we should “boldly go” and with a quickness!
My speech to the American People:
Disembodied voice of Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States, the Crazed American.
My fellow Americans.
As this Administration is of the mind that without a challenging frontier, any nation, any empire is doomed to stagnation and decadence. Since my predecessors somehow let the whole world, from crazy Islamo-Nazis to goatherding peasants aquire all sorts of thermonuclear goodies, it is obvious that we can’t throw our ruck onto the back of the nearest tank and head on out a conquering. That’s too bad, because the commute wouldn’t be as bad.
Since the uncharted depths of space are, to the best of our knowledge, sparsely populated, and even then only by bacteria, and the bacteria lobby doesn’t give much money to any re-election campaigns, I say we get our sorry, monkey selves on out into the ol’ inky blackness of space.
To that end, my challenge to NASA: you have exactly one Earth Year, that’s 364.25 Earth days, to put American men and women back on the Moon. One Year to set up a polar station on the moon. Get hopping. It took America’s finest minds under ten years to do it back in the 1960’s and they did it with slide rules. I have more computational power in my cell phone than all of the aerospace industry combined did, back in the sixties. Were people back then smarter than we are today? Hells no. Time to get cracking. The immediate goal of this initial Lunar mission will be to set up and begin transmission of solar power back to Earth within one year of establishment of the new lunar base. Proceeds from this power generation will go directly into NASA’s budget. Estimates are that in the space of five to ten years solar power production and lunar mineral production could mean that NASA could turn a profit in less than ten years. This power production would also mean that there would be a lessening reliance on polluting power sources. That’s the carrot.
Now for the stick, and a mighty bad one it is indeed. NASA will not be given an additional dime of taxpayer money. NASA’s budget, while not a large fraction of the Federal Budget, is still sufficiently large to accomplish the tasks with the right management and attitude. Excuses will not be acceptable, results are expected. If the landing target date is missed, I will immediately dissolve the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, set up a new National Council of Astronautics and begin the privatization of the American Space Industry. Appropriate space access and heavy lift boosters and launch and regeneration facilities will be retained by the United States Air Force. Everything else, will be auctioned off to private sector corporations with American or Allied ownership. The ways of the past were not set in stone. The present way NASA is doing things, in my opinion, do not adequately further the national interest.
In the coming year we will welcome the partnership of our partners in previous space adventures, but like certain adventures that this country has taken in the past, allow me to say that we are going, with or without you, we are going. We’d like to have company on the trip – a share in the adventure, a share in the risk and a share in the rewards.
As Americans we will take this challenge, as we have challenges in the past, with a deadly seriousness that it deserves, but we look forward to the challenges that it represents. To my political opponents, who will undoubtedly accuse this challenge as being a waste of resources, I say to them, Take a group of poor, inner city school children and take them to the Kennedy Space center and allow them, for a minute to behold the sight of the mighty Saturn V. Then take a look at their faces. Our children are not inspired by everyday live. All children want to be Astronauts, want to explore, want to discover. Let us give them that. We won’t spend more than the previous administration did.
Employees of NASA, you had best start working like your jobs and livelihoods depended on it. You had better be ready to beg, borrow, and steal to get this mission accomplished. Your jobs and livelihood to depend on it.
This is not to say that you have been slacking off in the past, but it is time to put your culture of obsessive safety behind you. Low Earth Orbit has been the extent of Human Space Exploration for over forty years. In the immortal words of a role model of mine, “Risk is our business.” Safety is important and as Americans we do not cavalierly throw life away. I am sure we can continue our climb to the stars in a way that keeps our investments of blood and treasure secure. But the Astronaut Corps has never lacked for volunteers, and I believe strongly that even with a moderately higher risk, the line of people wanting to experience a ride on one of our Ares and Orion boosters will still be as long. If it was a priority for Presidents in the past to expend blood and treasure to achieve goals on earth, then the exploration and human colonization of our own satellite is a priority for this government. Our astronauts, as a representative of our people as a whole, are a brave lot. Ask them to give their lives, and if the cause is just, they will be ready to further the reaches of science and humanity itself. Ladies and gentlemen, we simply do this for the preservation of our race, the continuance of our people. If modern science has done nothing, it has gien us a glimpse of just how tenuous our existence on this blue green marble of a world is. If humanity is left to stagnate on our home world, even without the threats that exist from our own solar neighborhood, and without the challenges of a final frontier, we are doomed to a future of strife, draining and meaningless wars and mediocrity.
Many look to the days of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Programs as the golden age of American Space Exploration. I have to heartily disagree. I believe the golden age of American Space Exploration is in a chapter of the history of this country that has yet to be written, yet we are the authors.
I look forward to the challenges and adventure of the years to come.
Good night.
Bringing to you an sporadic and unorganized series of rantings on what would happen under the benevolent Crazed American Administration.
Part I: NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Many times I ask myself, what happened to American Leadership in all things technological? First and foremost, I refer to you to the glorious NASA – under whose Administration, has seen America’s Exploration ability wane to the point of insignificance. We are a nation, founded by explorers, yet we have nothing to explore. There is a boundless frontier that’s only one hundred miles way, and all that stands between us and it is gravity and a will to do it. American priorities are just not where they need to be to see us “boldly go”. Dammit – we should “boldly go” and with a quickness!
My speech to the American People:
Disembodied voice of Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States, the Crazed American.
My fellow Americans.
As this Administration is of the mind that without a challenging frontier, any nation, any empire is doomed to stagnation and decadence. Since my predecessors somehow let the whole world, from crazy Islamo-Nazis to goatherding peasants aquire all sorts of thermonuclear goodies, it is obvious that we can’t throw our ruck onto the back of the nearest tank and head on out a conquering. That’s too bad, because the commute wouldn’t be as bad.
Since the uncharted depths of space are, to the best of our knowledge, sparsely populated, and even then only by bacteria, and the bacteria lobby doesn’t give much money to any re-election campaigns, I say we get our sorry, monkey selves on out into the ol’ inky blackness of space.
To that end, my challenge to NASA: you have exactly one Earth Year, that’s 364.25 Earth days, to put American men and women back on the Moon. One Year to set up a polar station on the moon. Get hopping. It took America’s finest minds under ten years to do it back in the 1960’s and they did it with slide rules. I have more computational power in my cell phone than all of the aerospace industry combined did, back in the sixties. Were people back then smarter than we are today? Hells no. Time to get cracking. The immediate goal of this initial Lunar mission will be to set up and begin transmission of solar power back to Earth within one year of establishment of the new lunar base. Proceeds from this power generation will go directly into NASA’s budget. Estimates are that in the space of five to ten years solar power production and lunar mineral production could mean that NASA could turn a profit in less than ten years. This power production would also mean that there would be a lessening reliance on polluting power sources. That’s the carrot.
Now for the stick, and a mighty bad one it is indeed. NASA will not be given an additional dime of taxpayer money. NASA’s budget, while not a large fraction of the Federal Budget, is still sufficiently large to accomplish the tasks with the right management and attitude. Excuses will not be acceptable, results are expected. If the landing target date is missed, I will immediately dissolve the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, set up a new National Council of Astronautics and begin the privatization of the American Space Industry. Appropriate space access and heavy lift boosters and launch and regeneration facilities will be retained by the United States Air Force. Everything else, will be auctioned off to private sector corporations with American or Allied ownership. The ways of the past were not set in stone. The present way NASA is doing things, in my opinion, do not adequately further the national interest.
In the coming year we will welcome the partnership of our partners in previous space adventures, but like certain adventures that this country has taken in the past, allow me to say that we are going, with or without you, we are going. We’d like to have company on the trip – a share in the adventure, a share in the risk and a share in the rewards.
As Americans we will take this challenge, as we have challenges in the past, with a deadly seriousness that it deserves, but we look forward to the challenges that it represents. To my political opponents, who will undoubtedly accuse this challenge as being a waste of resources, I say to them, Take a group of poor, inner city school children and take them to the Kennedy Space center and allow them, for a minute to behold the sight of the mighty Saturn V. Then take a look at their faces. Our children are not inspired by everyday live. All children want to be Astronauts, want to explore, want to discover. Let us give them that. We won’t spend more than the previous administration did.
Employees of NASA, you had best start working like your jobs and livelihoods depended on it. You had better be ready to beg, borrow, and steal to get this mission accomplished. Your jobs and livelihood to depend on it.
This is not to say that you have been slacking off in the past, but it is time to put your culture of obsessive safety behind you. Low Earth Orbit has been the extent of Human Space Exploration for over forty years. In the immortal words of a role model of mine, “Risk is our business.” Safety is important and as Americans we do not cavalierly throw life away. I am sure we can continue our climb to the stars in a way that keeps our investments of blood and treasure secure. But the Astronaut Corps has never lacked for volunteers, and I believe strongly that even with a moderately higher risk, the line of people wanting to experience a ride on one of our Ares and Orion boosters will still be as long. If it was a priority for Presidents in the past to expend blood and treasure to achieve goals on earth, then the exploration and human colonization of our own satellite is a priority for this government. Our astronauts, as a representative of our people as a whole, are a brave lot. Ask them to give their lives, and if the cause is just, they will be ready to further the reaches of science and humanity itself. Ladies and gentlemen, we simply do this for the preservation of our race, the continuance of our people. If modern science has done nothing, it has gien us a glimpse of just how tenuous our existence on this blue green marble of a world is. If humanity is left to stagnate on our home world, even without the threats that exist from our own solar neighborhood, and without the challenges of a final frontier, we are doomed to a future of strife, draining and meaningless wars and mediocrity.
Many look to the days of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Programs as the golden age of American Space Exploration. I have to heartily disagree. I believe the golden age of American Space Exploration is in a chapter of the history of this country that has yet to be written, yet we are the authors.
I look forward to the challenges and adventure of the years to come.
Good night.
17 August 2006
For this, I will overlook Eyes Wide Shut
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20157470-5005961,00.html
Read the article – what a bunch of smart, stand up kind of people.
Smart, because they know that if the terrorists win, American Culture looses. If American Culture looses, then Hollywood’s Hit List will become literally a Hit list. They will be marked as purveyors of Imperialist decadence, and probably the first bunch lined up in the Soccer Stadium.
(For those of you who don’t get the Soccer Stadium reference, it’s referring to the Soccer Stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan, where the Taliban executed a vast number of folks – specifically a Woman was executed by rifle fire at point blank range for wearing lipstick.)
No matter your political bent here in America, how hard is it to understand that these people we are fighting want to spread Fundamentalist Islam (Not Westernized, liberalized, women don’t have to wear Burqas Islam) from one side of the globe to another. True, the West started the current battle back in 1096 with the First Crusade, but come on! Life is not fair. Ask a Gazelle on the Serengeti sometime if you don’t believe me. Our civilization and way of life are at stake here. Say what you want about the “evils” of America. It’s still a hell of a lot better here than EVERY OTHER PLACE ON THE G_DDamned PLANET. In the history of man, at no other time, in no other place has having too much food and too much free time ever been considered a disease. It is in America (and to some degrees other protectorates of America – talking to you Europe). Everywhere else obesity is considered to be a sign of wealth and success.
I am a son, a husband and a father of a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed, American girl. My mother, wife and daughter will not, as long as I live, submit to Sharia Law. Few absolutes in this world of ours, but I’m saying that’s pretty much an absolute.
How can anyone who supports the rights of women, ever say a kind word for Islamists? Gang rapes, Honor Killings, Stonings – all rewards for the women of the world under a strict Sharia law.
Time to go – off to send Joe Lieberman a small portion of the Mountain Redoubt’s Remodeling Fund.
Read the article – what a bunch of smart, stand up kind of people.
Smart, because they know that if the terrorists win, American Culture looses. If American Culture looses, then Hollywood’s Hit List will become literally a Hit list. They will be marked as purveyors of Imperialist decadence, and probably the first bunch lined up in the Soccer Stadium.
(For those of you who don’t get the Soccer Stadium reference, it’s referring to the Soccer Stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan, where the Taliban executed a vast number of folks – specifically a Woman was executed by rifle fire at point blank range for wearing lipstick.)
No matter your political bent here in America, how hard is it to understand that these people we are fighting want to spread Fundamentalist Islam (Not Westernized, liberalized, women don’t have to wear Burqas Islam) from one side of the globe to another. True, the West started the current battle back in 1096 with the First Crusade, but come on! Life is not fair. Ask a Gazelle on the Serengeti sometime if you don’t believe me. Our civilization and way of life are at stake here. Say what you want about the “evils” of America. It’s still a hell of a lot better here than EVERY OTHER PLACE ON THE G_DDamned PLANET. In the history of man, at no other time, in no other place has having too much food and too much free time ever been considered a disease. It is in America (and to some degrees other protectorates of America – talking to you Europe). Everywhere else obesity is considered to be a sign of wealth and success.
I am a son, a husband and a father of a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed, American girl. My mother, wife and daughter will not, as long as I live, submit to Sharia Law. Few absolutes in this world of ours, but I’m saying that’s pretty much an absolute.
How can anyone who supports the rights of women, ever say a kind word for Islamists? Gang rapes, Honor Killings, Stonings – all rewards for the women of the world under a strict Sharia law.
Time to go – off to send Joe Lieberman a small portion of the Mountain Redoubt’s Remodeling Fund.
16 August 2006
2nd Star to the right…
Back from a pilgrimage to the homeland. Apologies for the light (nonexistent posting). Spent a few days meeting up with some of the finest people on the face of the planet.
A friend of mine has a new girlfriend. She’s a damn nice lady. Smart, good with kids, friendly as hell. My daughter really likes her. My wife really likes her. The rest of the krewe of friends really like her. Here’s hoping that at the 1 year mark, he still really likes her and she him. She’s marrying material… We'll have to see if he can break his track record. Learn the lessons of your firends, there are benefits to loosing the Serial Monogamist label...
The rest of our Krewe was as truly wonderful as usual. Hanging out, grilling, drinking, it literally almost couldn’t get any better than that.
Now for something completely different…
Took the smallest Crazed American on her first pilgrimage to the all hallowed temple of greed an commercialism, and a damn fun place for “children of all ages”, Disney World.
Hats off to the current keepers of Mickey’s kingdom. While that abominable EPCOT sign still blasphemes the 20 year old futuristic vision that is SpaceShip Earth, and I personally think the Color scheme at Journey to Imagination needs to be redone, and the glass on Imagination and the Land need a little TLC, the Magic Kingdom looked great!
Have to say, visited EPCOT in 2002 and was not impressed with the overall condition of the park. It was a tad run down, and the staff wasn’t all that pleasant. For the purposes of full disclosure, I worked for “The Mouse” from 1990 – 1991. So having been a veteran of the operation, I can talk.
If it was up to me, I’d have a nice long sit down with a few futurists, corporate partners and the Imagineering staff and figure out how to update both EPCOT and TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney was definitely a forward thinking man who wanted his parks to be a showcase of life in the future and how technology could actually make our lives better. I don’t think her really care for the “Future of Tomorrow” that the current TomorrowLand puts forward. Then, I’d shut the front half of EPCOT down (leave the World Showcase open, and redo it. There I’d really set out what the future might look like if we all don’t blow ourselves to hell first. Surely our view of the future here in the 21st century must be much more stupendous than the future imagined in the 1960’s and 1970’s?
Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Not Easy Promotional Corporate Office Tie-in. Finding Nemo does not necessarily mean an automatic tie in with the Living Seas. EPCOT, when it opened had a minimum of the whole character tie in. Now, it’s creeping in all over. EPCOT was not necessarily geared to the Princess Storybook and character autograph set. EPCOT used to be a destination fro me when I was younger. I’d never leave the place without a “Man, that was Cool!” feeling. Haven’t had those feelings in a while… but with the right investment and corporate partnership, things could happen. I am not saying that there shouldn’t be corporate partnerships, there should be, that’s the whole point. The original exhibit halls were all sponsored by their partnerships. Let’s face it though, AT&T set up SpaceShip Earth and that company has changed hands so many times since then, the ride really hasn’t been updated at all since it opened.
I’d start by getting a framework and new vision (dust off Walter E’s old vision statements), and then request bids from companies on updating the current exhibit halls and maybe adding a few new ones…
EPCOT and TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom need new life.
For the love of G-d, take down the huge dismembered hand…
A friend of mine has a new girlfriend. She’s a damn nice lady. Smart, good with kids, friendly as hell. My daughter really likes her. My wife really likes her. The rest of the krewe of friends really like her. Here’s hoping that at the 1 year mark, he still really likes her and she him. She’s marrying material… We'll have to see if he can break his track record. Learn the lessons of your firends, there are benefits to loosing the Serial Monogamist label...
The rest of our Krewe was as truly wonderful as usual. Hanging out, grilling, drinking, it literally almost couldn’t get any better than that.
Now for something completely different…
Took the smallest Crazed American on her first pilgrimage to the all hallowed temple of greed an commercialism, and a damn fun place for “children of all ages”, Disney World.
Hats off to the current keepers of Mickey’s kingdom. While that abominable EPCOT sign still blasphemes the 20 year old futuristic vision that is SpaceShip Earth, and I personally think the Color scheme at Journey to Imagination needs to be redone, and the glass on Imagination and the Land need a little TLC, the Magic Kingdom looked great!
Have to say, visited EPCOT in 2002 and was not impressed with the overall condition of the park. It was a tad run down, and the staff wasn’t all that pleasant. For the purposes of full disclosure, I worked for “The Mouse” from 1990 – 1991. So having been a veteran of the operation, I can talk.
If it was up to me, I’d have a nice long sit down with a few futurists, corporate partners and the Imagineering staff and figure out how to update both EPCOT and TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney was definitely a forward thinking man who wanted his parks to be a showcase of life in the future and how technology could actually make our lives better. I don’t think her really care for the “Future of Tomorrow” that the current TomorrowLand puts forward. Then, I’d shut the front half of EPCOT down (leave the World Showcase open, and redo it. There I’d really set out what the future might look like if we all don’t blow ourselves to hell first. Surely our view of the future here in the 21st century must be much more stupendous than the future imagined in the 1960’s and 1970’s?
Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Not Easy Promotional Corporate Office Tie-in. Finding Nemo does not necessarily mean an automatic tie in with the Living Seas. EPCOT, when it opened had a minimum of the whole character tie in. Now, it’s creeping in all over. EPCOT was not necessarily geared to the Princess Storybook and character autograph set. EPCOT used to be a destination fro me when I was younger. I’d never leave the place without a “Man, that was Cool!” feeling. Haven’t had those feelings in a while… but with the right investment and corporate partnership, things could happen. I am not saying that there shouldn’t be corporate partnerships, there should be, that’s the whole point. The original exhibit halls were all sponsored by their partnerships. Let’s face it though, AT&T set up SpaceShip Earth and that company has changed hands so many times since then, the ride really hasn’t been updated at all since it opened.
I’d start by getting a framework and new vision (dust off Walter E’s old vision statements), and then request bids from companies on updating the current exhibit halls and maybe adding a few new ones…
EPCOT and TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom need new life.
For the love of G-d, take down the huge dismembered hand…
01 August 2006
Fidel Castro and the Dawn of a new Era for the Cuban people
The author of this blog is a friend of Israel. The author of this blog is a friend of the Cuban People.
Normally, I am not one to wish ill upon someone. I make an exception in the case of Fidel Castro.
Actually I hope he is released from the pain of his illness, and he can go where all good communists go when they die…
Raul, I hope you have your IL-76 warmed up on the tarmac on hot standby. I’d really hate to be in your shoes right now…
Cuba should be made into the 51st – 53rd states of our glorious Union. A free Cuba that is no longer under control of Communists or any organized crime cartel is a great hope indeed.
A free Cuba is going to be a gold mine – specifically for the long suffering Cuban people. Sure, it will cost us plenty on bringing her out of the dark doldrums of communism, but the Cuban people are an industrious lot, I have faith in them!
Normally, I am not one to wish ill upon someone. I make an exception in the case of Fidel Castro.
Actually I hope he is released from the pain of his illness, and he can go where all good communists go when they die…
Raul, I hope you have your IL-76 warmed up on the tarmac on hot standby. I’d really hate to be in your shoes right now…
Cuba should be made into the 51st – 53rd states of our glorious Union. A free Cuba that is no longer under control of Communists or any organized crime cartel is a great hope indeed.
A free Cuba is going to be a gold mine – specifically for the long suffering Cuban people. Sure, it will cost us plenty on bringing her out of the dark doldrums of communism, but the Cuban people are an industrious lot, I have faith in them!
It's been a few days...
It’s been a few days, but…
Iran is still instigating violence in the Middle East.
The Israelis are learning the lesson that you cannot win a war by airpower alone. No offence to any Air Force types, but you have to have Infantry (and with infantry you have to have armor and especially artillery in support).
Best of luck and good hunting to IDF forces that are currently engaged.
Mr. Gibson…
Mr. Gibson, oh Mr. Mel Gibson. You are an artist, and I have thoroughly enjoyed your works. Braveheart was a master piece. We Were Soldiers was incredible. Your portrayal of Lt. Col. Harold G Moore was spot on. I ate lunch with Lt. Gen. Moore and Mr. Galloway in 1992 when they stopped at a certain US Government funded educational institution on the Hudson River on their book tour.
Passion of the Christ was an important film. Not fun to watch, but, then again, it was a film about a specifically “un-fun” event. Mr. Gibson, your use of light is probably the best around. Compliments to you and your cinematographer.
Patriot was great, Payback was great.
Road Warrior was excellent. Mad Max was excellent. The Lethal Weapon films are excellent (#4 was lacking just a tad, compared to the first two, especially). You have your own genre – the Mel Gibson Revenge Movie…
On the other hand…
How could you, the face of modern Fundamentalist Catholicism, be anti-Semitic? Was not Mr. Jesus H. Christ, in fact, a Rabbi from Judea? Was not the G-d to which Mr. Jesus H. Christ prayed (and incidentally, was descended from and ascended to) the G-d of the Torah and the Talmud?
Help me understand. If it was the booze talking, then you might want to switch brands. I will give you, who I recognize to be an artist, the “tortured artist” pass. If you are truly an anti-Semite, then you will have my pity, but much fewer of my future box-office dollars.
I, in deference to your treatment, will have to cross you off of the “list of people I want to get drunk with”. You are now on the “list of people I’d like to have a cup of coffee with.”
I for one truly hope that you get better, and soon, sir. I, for one, will give you the benefit of the doubt; you hurt no one but yourself. I am really looking forward to Apocalypto. May your treatment program see you some success.
Just a thought – how about a little atonement – making a movie about Saul, Jonathan and David against the Philistines? One with no punches pulled? That I’d throw out some scratch to see. Also, just saying, but you’d make a darn good Saul…
Iran is still instigating violence in the Middle East.
The Israelis are learning the lesson that you cannot win a war by airpower alone. No offence to any Air Force types, but you have to have Infantry (and with infantry you have to have armor and especially artillery in support).
Best of luck and good hunting to IDF forces that are currently engaged.
Mr. Gibson…
Mr. Gibson, oh Mr. Mel Gibson. You are an artist, and I have thoroughly enjoyed your works. Braveheart was a master piece. We Were Soldiers was incredible. Your portrayal of Lt. Col. Harold G Moore was spot on. I ate lunch with Lt. Gen. Moore and Mr. Galloway in 1992 when they stopped at a certain US Government funded educational institution on the Hudson River on their book tour.
Passion of the Christ was an important film. Not fun to watch, but, then again, it was a film about a specifically “un-fun” event. Mr. Gibson, your use of light is probably the best around. Compliments to you and your cinematographer.
Patriot was great, Payback was great.
Road Warrior was excellent. Mad Max was excellent. The Lethal Weapon films are excellent (#4 was lacking just a tad, compared to the first two, especially). You have your own genre – the Mel Gibson Revenge Movie…
On the other hand…
How could you, the face of modern Fundamentalist Catholicism, be anti-Semitic? Was not Mr. Jesus H. Christ, in fact, a Rabbi from Judea? Was not the G-d to which Mr. Jesus H. Christ prayed (and incidentally, was descended from and ascended to) the G-d of the Torah and the Talmud?
Help me understand. If it was the booze talking, then you might want to switch brands. I will give you, who I recognize to be an artist, the “tortured artist” pass. If you are truly an anti-Semite, then you will have my pity, but much fewer of my future box-office dollars.
I, in deference to your treatment, will have to cross you off of the “list of people I want to get drunk with”. You are now on the “list of people I’d like to have a cup of coffee with.”
I for one truly hope that you get better, and soon, sir. I, for one, will give you the benefit of the doubt; you hurt no one but yourself. I am really looking forward to Apocalypto. May your treatment program see you some success.
Just a thought – how about a little atonement – making a movie about Saul, Jonathan and David against the Philistines? One with no punches pulled? That I’d throw out some scratch to see. Also, just saying, but you’d make a darn good Saul…
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